The Problems of Philosophy'Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?' Philosophy is the attempt to answer such ultimate questions, not carelessly and dogmatically, as we might deal with them in ordinary life, but critically, after analysing how and why the questions arise and clarifying the assumptions and concepts on which they are based. This classic work, first published in 1912, has never been supplanted as an approachable introduction to the theory of philosophical enquiry. It gives Russell's views on such subjects as the distinction between appearance and reality, the existence and nature of matter, idealism, knowledge by acquaintance and by description, induction, and the limits and value of philosophical knowledge. This edition includes an introduction by John Skorupski contextualizing Russell's work, and a guide to further reading. |
Contents
1 Appearance and Reality | 1 |
2 The Existence of Matter | 7 |
3 The Nature of Matter | 13 |
4 Idealism | 19 |
5 Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description | 25 |
6 On Induction | 33 |
7 On Our Knowledge of General Principles | 39 |
8 How A Priori Knowledge is Possible | 46 |
11 On Intuitive Knowledge | 64 |
12 Truth and Falsehood | 69 |
13 Knowledge Error and Probable Opinion | 76 |
14 The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge | 82 |
15 The Value of Philosophy | 89 |
Foreword to the German Translation | 95 |
Bibliographical Note | 97 |
Further Reading | 99 |
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Common terms and phrases
A. N. Whitehead actual answer appear argument aware become belief is true Berkeley Bertrand Russell Bismarck called certainty chapter coherence colour complex connexion consider constitute correspondence deduced definite degree of self-evidence derivative knowledge Descartes Desdemona loves Cassio difficulty doubt empiricists example existence experience fact false German Empire give Graham Priest Hence ideas inductive principle inference instance instinctive beliefs intuitive knowledge involved judge judgement Julius Caesar Kant kind knowledge by acquaintance knowledge by description knowledge of things knowledge of truths law of contradiction ledge Leibniz less logical principles matter means memory men are mortal mental merely mind mortal nature never ourselves particular perceive physical objects physical space possible premisses priori knowledge Problems of Philosophy proposition prove question real table reason regard relation Russell Russell's seems sensations sense sense-data so-and-so Socrates sort suppose theory thought universals value of philosophy whiteness word